One Hour Painting Project: The Enso Circle – A Watercolour Exercise in Letting Go
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
Sometimes the most valuable thing you can paint isn't a landscape or a flower.
Sometimes it's simply a circle.
The Japanese enso is a circle painted in one continuous brushstroke. Traditionally associated with Zen practice, it isn't intended to be perfect. In fact, the beauty often lies in its imperfections.
Some circles are bold and confident. Some are hesitant. Some remain open rather than fully closed.
Each one is simply a record of a single moment.
This makes it a wonderful exercise for watercolour too.
If you've got an hour spare this week, I'd encourage you to put aside the idea of creating a finished painting and instead spend some time exploring marks, movement and the joy of paint itself.
Why Paint an Enso Circle?
This exercise helps you practise:
Loading your brush well
Making confident marks
Working with the movement of water
Letting go of perfection
Being present with the painting rather than worrying about the outcome
Perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that every brushstroke tells us something.
Materials You'll Need
Keep everything simple.
A4 or A5 watercolour paper
A large round brush (around a size 12 works well). This is also a great way to explore mark making with your bigger brushes.
Watercolour paints
Water
Cloth or kitchen roll
Choose just two or three colours that you enjoy using. I like Indigo with a little Yellow Ochre, but anything will work.
Step 1 – Warm Up
Before attempting your first circle, spend five or ten minutes making loose brush marks.
Paint thick lines.
Thin lines.
Fast marks.
Slow marks.
Try holding the brush further back than usual and allow your arm to move rather than just your wrist.
Step 2 – Load Your Brush
Mix a generous puddle of colour.
Load your brush fully so that it holds enough paint to make one complete circle without stopping.
This isn't about precision.
It's about commitment.
Step 3 – Paint Your Circle
Take a slow breath.
Then paint one circle in a single movement.
Simply observe what happened.
Some circles will be wonky.
Some will have dry brush textures.
Some will bloom beautifully.
They're all interesting.
Step 4 – Paint Another
Now paint another.
And another.
Try changing something each time.
Paint faster.
Paint more slowly.
Use more water.
Use less water.
Try different colours.
Leave some circles open.
Notice how each one feels different.
Step 5 – Add Gentle Washes (Optional)
Traditionally, an enso is painted in a single, uninterrupted brushstroke and left exactly as it is. But this is your painting, not a test! I can't resist adding a little spatter or dropping in another colour while the paint is still damp. You might add another wash, a few expressive marks, or simply leave it as it is. Explore, experiment, and enjoy the process.
Things to Notice
As you paint, ask yourself:
Was I trying to control the brush?
Did I hesitate?
What happened when I moved more confidently?
Which circle do I actually like best?
Interestingly, it's often not the one we'd planned.
A Different Kind of Practice
We often think that practising watercolour means learning new techniques. Sometimes it means learning to trust ourselves.
The enso circle reminds us that every mark is unique and every painting is simply a moment in time. There isn't really a right or wrong one.
Just another opportunity to pick up the brush.
Looking Ahead
Exercises like this are a lovely way to begin a painting session because they encourage us to slow down and arrive fully in the present moment.
In fact, this is one of the gentle creative warm-ups we'll be using on some of our Omara Retreats, where painting, yoga and qigong all share the same intention: slowing down, noticing more deeply, and enjoying the creative process.
Keep Exploring
If you enjoyed this project, why not make it the first in a regular creative practice?
You don't need hours of free time to develop your painting. Sometimes sixty minutes, a sheet of paper and a brush are enough to reconnect with your creativity.
If you'd like to explore expressive watercolour in a relaxed, supportive environment, I'd love to welcome you to one of my workshops in North Yorkshire. You can see all upcoming workshops here.
And if the idea of combining painting with time to slow down, unwind and reconnect appeals to you, take a look at our Omara Retreats, where gentle creative exercises like this sit alongside yoga, qigong and time in beautiful landscapes.
Happy painting!
